Pocket-clasp.



J. W. HAWKINS.

POCKET CLASP. APPLICATION FILED NOV. n, 1914.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

JWiZkJ Inventor Attorneys THE COLUMBIA PLANOEIRAPH cm, WASHINGT ON, n.c.

JOHN \V. HAWKINS, OF MUNFORDVILLE, KENTUCKY.

POCKET-CLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29,1916.

Application filed November 11, 1914. Serial No. 871,530.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. HAWKINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Munfordville, in the county of Hart and State of Kentucky,have invented a new and useful Pocket-Clasp, of which the following is aspecification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a claspadapted to be applied to the pocket of a garment, to the end that a handmay be inserted into the pocket only with difficulty, therebypreventing'an unauthorized removal of the contents of the pocket.

The present invention aims to provide a clasp of the type indicatedwhich will conform to the contour of the wearer of the garment wherewiththe device is assembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for connectingthe clasp to the pocket. 7

A further object of the invention is to im prove the clasp structurally,notably in so far as is concerned the relatively rigid strip and themeans whereby the resilient grip is assembled with the strip.

WVith the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combina tion andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows in side elevation, atrousers pocket to which the clasp forming the subject matter of thisapplication has been applied; Fig. 2 is an elevation showing theopposite side of the pocket and the clasp from that delineated in Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is asection on the line 44 of Fig. 1. I

In the drawings and referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, thenumeral 1 indicates the pocket of a garment and in the present instance,a trousers pocket is shown. To one side of the pocket 1 is applied arelatively rigid tubular strip 2. The strip 2 may be formed in anydesired manner, but in the present instance, referring to Fig. l, itwill be seen that the strip is made by rolling a sheet of metal uponitself, the resulting structure being flattened down to approximate anoblong cross section. Located within the strip 2 and extendedlongitudinally thereof near to the upper and lower edges of the stripare reinforcing elements 3 which preferably are made of metal. Asindicated by the reference character 4 in Flg. 1, the ends of thereinforcing elements 3 protrude beyond the ends of the tubular strip 2and, noting Fig. 2 and observing the point at which the referencecharacter 5 is applied, it will be observed that the ends of thereinforcing elements 3 are bent over to form prongs 5 engaging the edgesof the pocket 1 to hold the strip 2 in place thereon.

Assembled with the strip 2 is a grip, in the present instance shown inthe form of a continuous elastic band 6. The band 6 passes through thestrip 2 longitudinally, between the reinforcing elements 3 and liesalong one of the outer faces of the strip. As will be understoodreadily, the strip engages one side of the pocket 1 and a portion of theband 6 engages the other side of the pocket, and thus the pocket is heldclosed. If desired, a strap 7 may extend transversely of the strip 2,the ends of the strap being attached to one side of the pocket 1.Another strap, indicated by the reference character 8 may be similarlymounted upon the other side of the pocket and may extend across theexposed, pocket-engagingportion of the resilient band 6.

As shown at 9 in Fig. 3, the strip 2 is concaved longitudinally upon oneside and as a result is convexed longitudinally upon the opposite side.Since the strip is concaved as shown at 9, the same will conform to thecross sectional contour of tlTe leg a-nd the clothing will riot bebulged owing to the presence of the strip 2. Since the strip 2 isconvexed upon its outer side and since a portion of the band 6 extendslongitudinally of the convexed sidev of the strip, the band will betightened and remain thoroughly efficient as a pocket-engaging means,reference being had to Fig. 2.

From the foregoing it will be observed that there is shown in thisapplication, a novel form of clasp which will close a pocketeffectively, novel means being provided for assembling the resilientgrip with the strip or body portion of the clasp, the body portion ofthe clasp being of novel form, and novel means being provided wherebythe entire structure is held upon the garment pocket.

Having thus descrlbed the inventien, What 5' is claimed is 2- i A pocketclasp comprlsing a tubular v i strip; an endless elastic bandconstituting a 1 grip extended through said tubular strip; spacedrein-forcing elements in the'stripand 10 located on oppositesides-.:ofathe grip, the ends of the reinforcing elements protrudingCopies of this patentflmayvbewv ob beyondthe ends of the strip and beingbent to form pocket engaging prongs, the prongs constituting means formaintaining the grip on the ends of the strip.

In .-tes tim0ny that I laim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

I JOHN W1 HANVKINS. "lVitnessesz 7 EKJ F WLI R V W. A. SEYGLE Qp nmissioner- "oi 'l at'ent s,

tained fer fivel dents each; by addressing. the :Wash'i ngton,Ii. C.

